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Tensional stress tends to elongate or pull apart a rock unit. tensional stress produces reverse or thrust faults.

True
False

User Rubergly
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Final answer:

While tensional stress elongates or pulls apart a rock unit, it specifically causes normal faults, not reverse or thrust faults which occur due to compressional stress.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is partially correct. Tensional stress indeed tends to elongate or pull apart a rock unit. This form of stress occurs due to the forces pulling the rocks in opposite directions, causing them to grow thinner in the middle. However, the statement that tensional stress produces reverse or thrust faults is incorrect. Tensional stress typically causes normal faults. Here, the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall due to extension or stretching of the crust. Conversely, reverse or thrust faults occur due to compressional stress, where rocks are pushed together, not pulled apart.

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User Psyx
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